Background

Deacon Search was formed in September 1999 as an independent boutique specialising in retained legal search in relation to partner and partner designate appointments. We act only in the legal market and primarily in London. Our aim is to be independently considered the leading legal search boutique in terms of successful delivery and service to clients.

We are passionate about the proactive search process and the benefits that it brings to our clients in locating partners and teams of the highest quality, who very often have significant followings.

We have met with considerable success and have been instrumental in moving many high profile partners and teams. As such, we have established a strong track record in the legal search market acting for Top-10, US, medium-sized, West End and niche firms. Consequently, the majority of the assignments we undertake are now repeat business.

The Deacon Search Process is applicable to all areas of practice. Accordingly, we have undertaken successful retained assignments in a range of legal disciplines, including Banking, Corporate, Corporate Tax, Energy, Litigation, Finance, IP, IT, Competition, Employment, Pensions, Private Client, Projects. Financial Services and Real Estate.

As our reputation has grown, we have found ourselves increasingly acting for individual partners who wish to explore their own options across the market. We offer a consultative and collaborative approach and because our contacts are with law firm decision-makers, we often know of strategic vacancies before other recruiters.

Our Reputation

We have enjoyed a number of testaments to our reputation and success:

  • Over the last two years we have placed partners at a range of law firms including amongst others: Quinn Emanuel, Proskauer Rose, K&L Gates, Macfarlanes, Field Fisher Waterhouse, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, Eversheds, Fladgate, Fox Williams, Dawsons and Wallace.
  • The latest edition of The London Professional Recruitment Guide (published by Legalease) independently recommends us as being one of the top legal search consultancies in London.
  • Over the years we have been shortlisted for several awards (including Best Executive Search Firm) at the Recruiter Awards for Excellence.
  • We were the first specialist legal search consultancy to become a member of the Association of Search and Selection Consultants. This Association was formed to raise the standards of executive search by creating a specific code of practice.
  • We give regular seminars on various aspects of executive search to Managing Partners, Heads of Departments and Heads of Human Resources.
  • We also write articles in leading legal journals.